Feature/v2/toggle_for_auto_unzip (#4584)

## default 
<img width="1012" height="627"
alt="{BF57458D-50A6-4057-94F1-D6AB4628EFD8}"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/85e550ab-0aed-4341-be95-d5d3bc7146db"
/>

## disabled
<img width="1141" height="620"
alt="{140DB87B-05CF-4E0E-A14A-ED15075BD2EE}"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/e0f56e84-fb9d-4787-b5cb-ba7c5a54b1e1"
/>

## unzip options
<img width="530" height="255"
alt="{482CE185-73D5-4D90-91BB-B9305C711391}"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/609b18ee-4eae-4cee-afc1-5db01f9d1088"
/>
<img width="579" height="473"
alt="{4DFCA96D-792D-4370-8C62-4BA42C9F1A5F}"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/c67fa4af-04ef-41df-9420-65ce4247e25b"
/>

## pop up and maintains version metadata
<img width="1071" height="1220"
alt="{7F2A785C-5717-4A79-9D45-74BDA46DF273}"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9374cd2a-b7e5-46c4-a722-e141ab42f0de"
/>

---------

Co-authored-by: Connor Yoh <connor@stirlingpdf.com>

frontend/public/locales/en-GB/translation.json

@@ -257,6 +257,16 @@
       "name": "Save form inputs",
       "help": "Enable to store previously used inputs for future runs"
     },
+    "general": {
+      "title": "General",
+      "description": "Configure general application preferences.",
+      "autoUnzip": "Auto-unzip API responses",
+      "autoUnzipDescription": "Automatically extract files from ZIP responses",
+      "autoUnzipTooltip": "Automatically extract ZIP files returned from API operations. Disable to keep ZIP files intact. This does not affect automation workflows.",
+      "autoUnzipFileLimit": "Auto-unzip file limit",
+      "autoUnzipFileLimitDescription": "Maximum number of files to extract from ZIP",
+      "autoUnzipFileLimitTooltip": "Only unzip if the ZIP contains this many files or fewer. Set higher to extract larger ZIPs."
+    },
     "hotkeys": {
       "title": "Keyboard Shortcuts",
       "description": "Hover a tool to see its shortcut or customise it below. Click \"Change shortcut\" and press a new key combination. Press Esc to cancel.",
@@ -3187,6 +3197,7 @@
     "lastModified": "Last Modified",
     "toolChain": "Tools Applied",
     "restore": "Restore",
+    "unzip": "Unzip",
     "searchFiles": "Search files...",
     "recent": "Recent",
     "localFiles": "Local Files",

frontend/src/App.tsx

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { FilesModalProvider } from "./contexts/FilesModalContext";
 import { ToolWorkflowProvider } from "./contexts/ToolWorkflowContext";
 import { HotkeyProvider } from "./contexts/HotkeyContext";
 import { SidebarProvider } from "./contexts/SidebarContext";
+import { PreferencesProvider } from "./contexts/PreferencesContext";
 import ErrorBoundary from "./components/shared/ErrorBoundary";
 import HomePage from "./pages/HomePage";
 
@@ -41,25 +42,27 @@ export default function App() {
     <Suspense fallback={<LoadingFallback />}>
       <RainbowThemeProvider>
         <ErrorBoundary>
-          <FileContextProvider enableUrlSync={true} enablePersistence={true}>
+          <PreferencesProvider>
-            <NavigationProvider>
+            <FileContextProvider enableUrlSync={true} enablePersistence={true}>
-              <FilesModalProvider>
+              <NavigationProvider>
-                <ToolWorkflowProvider>
+                <FilesModalProvider>
-                  <HotkeyProvider>
+                  <ToolWorkflowProvider>
-                    <SidebarProvider>
+                    <HotkeyProvider>
-                      <ViewerProvider>
+                      <SidebarProvider>
-                        <SignatureProvider>
+                        <ViewerProvider>
-                          <RightRailProvider>
+                          <SignatureProvider>
-                            <HomePage />
+                            <RightRailProvider>
-                          </RightRailProvider>
+                              <HomePage />
-                        </SignatureProvider>
+                            </RightRailProvider>
-                      </ViewerProvider>
+                          </SignatureProvider>
-                    </SidebarProvider>
+                        </ViewerProvider>
-                  </HotkeyProvider>
+                      </SidebarProvider>
-                </ToolWorkflowProvider>
+                    </HotkeyProvider>
-              </FilesModalProvider>
+                  </ToolWorkflowProvider>
-            </NavigationProvider>
+                </FilesModalProvider>
-          </FileContextProvider>
+              </NavigationProvider>
+            </FileContextProvider>
+          </PreferencesProvider>
         </ErrorBoundary>
       </RainbowThemeProvider>
     </Suspense>

frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.tsx

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import {
   Text, Center, Box, LoadingOverlay, Stack, Group
 } from '@mantine/core';
 import { Dropzone } from '@mantine/dropzone';
-import { useFileSelection, useFileState, useFileManagement } from '../../contexts/FileContext';
+import { useFileSelection, useFileState, useFileManagement, useFileActions } from '../../contexts/FileContext';
 import { useNavigationActions } from '../../contexts/NavigationContext';
 import { zipFileService } from '../../services/zipFileService';
 import { detectFileExtension } from '../../utils/fileUtils';
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ const FileEditor = ({
   // Use optimized FileContext hooks
   const { state, selectors } = useFileState();
   const { addFiles, removeFiles, reorderFiles } = useFileManagement();
+  const { actions } = useFileActions();
 
   // Extract needed values from state (memoized to prevent infinite loops)
   const activeStirlingFileStubs = useMemo(() => selectors.getStirlingFileStubs(), [selectors.getFilesSignature()]);
@@ -309,6 +310,48 @@ const FileEditor = ({
     }
   }, [activeStirlingFileStubs, selectors, _setStatus]);
 
+  const handleUnzipFile = useCallback(async (fileId: FileId) => {
+    const record = activeStirlingFileStubs.find(r => r.id === fileId);
+    const file = record ? selectors.getFile(record.id) : null;
+    if (record && file) {
+      try {
+        // Extract and store files using shared service method
+        const result = await zipFileService.extractAndStoreFilesWithHistory(file, record);
+
+        if (result.success && result.extractedStubs.length > 0) {
+          // Add extracted file stubs to FileContext
+          await actions.addStirlingFileStubs(result.extractedStubs);
+
+          // Remove the original ZIP file
+          removeFiles([fileId], false);
+
+          alert({
+            alertType: 'success',
+            title: `Extracted ${result.extractedStubs.length} file(s) from ${file.name}`,
+            expandable: false,
+            durationMs: 3500
+          });
+        } else {
+          alert({
+            alertType: 'error',
+            title: `Failed to extract files from ${file.name}`,
+            body: result.errors.join('\n'),
+            expandable: true,
+            durationMs: 3500
+          });
+        }
+      } catch (error) {
+        console.error('Failed to unzip file:', error);
+        alert({
+          alertType: 'error',
+          title: `Error unzipping ${file.name}`,
+          expandable: false,
+          durationMs: 3500
+        });
+      }
+    }
+  }, [activeStirlingFileStubs, selectors, actions, removeFiles]);
+
   const handleViewFile = useCallback((fileId: FileId) => {
     const record = activeStirlingFileStubs.find(r => r.id === fileId);
     if (record) {
@@ -429,6 +472,7 @@ const FileEditor = ({
                   _onSetStatus={showStatus}
                   onReorderFiles={handleReorderFiles}
                   onDownloadFile={handleDownloadFile}
+                  onUnzipFile={handleUnzipFile}
                   toolMode={toolMode}
                   isSupported={isFileSupported(record.name)}
                 />

frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditorThumbnail.tsx

@@ -5,11 +5,13 @@ import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import MoreVertIcon from '@mui/icons-material/MoreVert';
 import DownloadOutlinedIcon from '@mui/icons-material/DownloadOutlined';
 import DeleteOutlineIcon from '@mui/icons-material/DeleteOutline';
+import UnarchiveIcon from '@mui/icons-material/Unarchive';
 import PushPinIcon from '@mui/icons-material/PushPin';
 import PushPinOutlinedIcon from '@mui/icons-material/PushPinOutlined';
 import DragIndicatorIcon from '@mui/icons-material/DragIndicator';
 import { draggable, dropTargetForElements } from '@atlaskit/pragmatic-drag-and-drop/element/adapter';
 import { StirlingFileStub } from '../../types/fileContext';
+import { zipFileService } from '../../services/zipFileService';
 
 import styles from './FileEditor.module.css';
 import { useFileContext } from '../../contexts/FileContext';
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ interface FileEditorThumbnailProps {
   _onSetStatus: (status: string) => void;
   onReorderFiles?: (sourceFileId: FileId, targetFileId: FileId, selectedFileIds: FileId[]) => void;
   onDownloadFile: (fileId: FileId) => void;
+  onUnzipFile?: (fileId: FileId) => void;
   toolMode?: boolean;
   isSupported?: boolean;
 }
@@ -45,6 +48,7 @@ const FileEditorThumbnail = ({
   _onSetStatus,
   onReorderFiles,
   onDownloadFile,
+  onUnzipFile,
   isSupported = true,
 }: FileEditorThumbnailProps) => {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
@@ -64,6 +68,9 @@ const FileEditorThumbnail = ({
   }, [activeFiles, file.id]);
   const isPinned = actualFile ? isFilePinned(actualFile) : false;
 
+  // Check if this is a ZIP file
+  const isZipFile = zipFileService.isZipFileStub(file);
+
   const pageCount = file.processedFile?.totalPages || 0;
 
   const handleRef = useRef<HTMLSpanElement | null>(null);
@@ -299,6 +306,16 @@ const FileEditorThumbnail = ({
             <span>{t('download', 'Download')}</span>
           </button>
 
+          {isZipFile && onUnzipFile && (
+            <button
+              className={styles.actionRow}
+              onClick={() => { onUnzipFile(file.id); alert({ alertType: 'success', title: `Unzipping ${file.name}`, expandable: false, durationMs: 2500 }); setShowActions(false); }}
+            >
+              <UnarchiveIcon fontSize="small" />
+              <span>{t('fileManager.unzip', 'Unzip')}</span>
+            </button>
+          )}
+
           <div className={styles.actionsDivider} />
 
           <button

frontend/src/components/fileManager/FileListItem.tsx

@@ -5,10 +5,12 @@ import DeleteIcon from '@mui/icons-material/Delete';
 import DownloadIcon from '@mui/icons-material/Download';
 import HistoryIcon from '@mui/icons-material/History';
 import RestoreIcon from '@mui/icons-material/Restore';
+import UnarchiveIcon from '@mui/icons-material/Unarchive';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { getFileSize, getFileDate } from '../../utils/fileUtils';
 import { FileId, StirlingFileStub } from '../../types/fileContext';
 import { useFileManagerContext } from '../../contexts/FileManagerContext';
+import { zipFileService } from '../../services/zipFileService';
 import ToolChain from '../shared/ToolChain';
 
 interface FileListItemProps {
@@ -38,7 +40,10 @@ const FileListItem: React.FC<FileListItemProps> = ({
   const [isHovered, setIsHovered] = useState(false);
   const [isMenuOpen, setIsMenuOpen] = useState(false);
   const { t } = useTranslation();
-  const {expandedFileIds, onToggleExpansion, onAddToRecents } = useFileManagerContext();
+  const {expandedFileIds, onToggleExpansion, onAddToRecents, onUnzipFile } = useFileManagerContext();
+
+  // Check if this is a ZIP file
+  const isZipFile = zipFileService.isZipFileStub(file);
 
   // Keep item in hovered state if menu is open
   const shouldShowHovered = isHovered || isMenuOpen;
@@ -192,6 +197,22 @@ const FileListItem: React.FC<FileListItemProps> = ({
                 </>
               )}
 
+              {/* Unzip option for ZIP files */}
+              {isZipFile && !isHistoryFile && (
+                <>
+                  <Menu.Item
+                    leftSection={<UnarchiveIcon style={{ fontSize: 16 }} />}
+                    onClick={(e) => {
+                      e.stopPropagation();
+                      onUnzipFile(file);
+                    }}
+                  >
+                    {t('fileManager.unzip', 'Unzip')}
+                  </Menu.Item>
+                  <Menu.Divider />
+                </>
+              )}
+
               <Menu.Item
                 leftSection={<DeleteIcon style={{ fontSize: 16 }} />}
                 onClick={(e) => {

frontend/src/components/shared/config/configNavSections.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import { NavKey } from './types';
 import HotkeysSection from './configSections/HotkeysSection';
+import GeneralSection from './configSections/GeneralSection';
 
 export interface ConfigNavItem {
   key: NavKey;
@@ -43,6 +44,12 @@ export const createConfigNavSections = (
     {
       title: 'Preferences',
       items: [
+        {
+          key: 'general',
+          label: 'General',
+          icon: 'settings-rounded',
+          component: <GeneralSection />
+        },
         {
           key: 'hotkeys',
           label: 'Keyboard Shortcuts',

frontend/src/components/shared/config/configSections/GeneralSection.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
+import { Paper, Stack, Switch, Text, Tooltip, NumberInput } from '@mantine/core';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { usePreferences } from '../../../../contexts/PreferencesContext';
+
+const DEFAULT_AUTO_UNZIP_FILE_LIMIT = 4;
+
+const GeneralSection: React.FC = () => {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const { preferences, updatePreference } = usePreferences();
+  const [fileLimitInput, setFileLimitInput] = useState<number | string>(preferences.autoUnzipFileLimit);
+
+  // Sync local state with preference changes
+  useEffect(() => {
+    setFileLimitInput(preferences.autoUnzipFileLimit);
+  }, [preferences.autoUnzipFileLimit]);
+
+  return (
+    <Stack gap="lg">
+      <div>
+        <Text fw={600} size="lg">{t('settings.general.title', 'General')}</Text>
+        <Text size="sm" c="dimmed">
+          {t('settings.general.description', 'Configure general application preferences.')}
+        </Text>
+      </div>
+
+      <Paper withBorder p="md" radius="md">
+        <Stack gap="md">
+          <Tooltip
+            label={t('settings.general.autoUnzipTooltip', 'Automatically extract ZIP files returned from API operations. Disable to keep ZIP files intact. This does not affect automation workflows.')}
+            multiline
+            w={300}
+            withArrow
+          >
+            <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'space-between', cursor: 'help' }}>
+              <div>
+                <Text fw={500} size="sm">
+                  {t('settings.general.autoUnzip', 'Auto-unzip API responses')}
+                </Text>
+                <Text size="xs" c="dimmed" mt={4}>
+                  {t('settings.general.autoUnzipDescription', 'Automatically extract files from ZIP responses')}
+                </Text>
+              </div>
+              <Switch
+                checked={preferences.autoUnzip}
+                onChange={(event) => updatePreference('autoUnzip', event.currentTarget.checked)}
+              />
+            </div>
+          </Tooltip>
+
+          <Tooltip
+            label={t('settings.general.autoUnzipFileLimitTooltip', 'Only unzip if the ZIP contains this many files or fewer. Set higher to extract larger ZIPs.')}
+            multiline
+            w={300}
+            withArrow
+          >
+            <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'space-between', cursor: 'help' }}>
+              <div>
+                <Text fw={500} size="sm">
+                  {t('settings.general.autoUnzipFileLimit', 'Auto-unzip file limit')}
+                </Text>
+                <Text size="xs" c="dimmed" mt={4}>
+                  {t('settings.general.autoUnzipFileLimitDescription', 'Maximum number of files to extract from ZIP')}
+                </Text>
+              </div>
+              <NumberInput
+                value={fileLimitInput}
+                onChange={setFileLimitInput}
+                onBlur={() => {
+                  const numValue = Number(fileLimitInput);
+                  const finalValue = (!fileLimitInput || isNaN(numValue) || numValue < 1 || numValue > 100) ? DEFAULT_AUTO_UNZIP_FILE_LIMIT : numValue;
+                  setFileLimitInput(finalValue);
+                  updatePreference('autoUnzipFileLimit', finalValue);
+                }}
+                min={1}
+                max={100}
+                step={1}
+                disabled={!preferences.autoUnzip}
+                style={{ width: 90 }}
+              />
+            </div>
+          </Tooltip>
+        </Stack>
+      </Paper>
+    </Stack>
+  );
+};
+
+export default GeneralSection;

frontend/src/contexts/FileManagerContext.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import React, { createContext, useContext, useState, useRef, useCallback, useEffect, useMemo } from 'react';
 import { fileStorage } from '../services/fileStorage';
+import { zipFileService } from '../services/zipFileService';
 import { StirlingFileStub } from '../types/fileContext';
 import { downloadFiles } from '../utils/downloadUtils';
 import { FileId } from '../types/file';
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ interface FileManagerContextValue {
   onDownloadSingle: (file: StirlingFileStub) => void;
   onToggleExpansion: (fileId: FileId) => void;
   onAddToRecents: (file: StirlingFileStub) => void;
+  onUnzipFile: (file: StirlingFileStub) => Promise<void>;
   onNewFilesSelect: (files: File[]) => void;
 
   // External props
@@ -544,6 +546,30 @@ export const FileManagerProvider: React.FC<FileManagerProviderProps> = ({
     }
   }, [refreshRecentFiles]);
 
+  const handleUnzipFile = useCallback(async (file: StirlingFileStub) => {
+    try {
+      // Load the full file from storage
+      const stirlingFile = await fileStorage.getStirlingFile(file.id);
+      if (!stirlingFile) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      // Extract and store files using shared service method
+      const result = await zipFileService.extractAndStoreFilesWithHistory(stirlingFile, file);
+
+      if (result.success) {
+        // Refresh file manager to show new files
+        await refreshRecentFiles();
+      }
+
+      if (result.errors.length > 0) {
+        console.error('Errors during unzip:', result.errors);
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error('Failed to unzip file:', error);
+    }
+  }, [refreshRecentFiles]);
+
   // Cleanup blob URLs when component unmounts
   useEffect(() => {
     return () => {
@@ -595,6 +621,7 @@ export const FileManagerProvider: React.FC<FileManagerProviderProps> = ({
     onDownloadSingle: handleDownloadSingle,
     onToggleExpansion: handleToggleExpansion,
     onAddToRecents: handleAddToRecents,
+    onUnzipFile: handleUnzipFile,
     onNewFilesSelect,
 
     // External props
@@ -627,6 +654,7 @@ export const FileManagerProvider: React.FC<FileManagerProviderProps> = ({
     handleDownloadSelected,
     handleToggleExpansion,
     handleAddToRecents,
+    handleUnzipFile,
     onNewFilesSelect,
     recentFiles,
     isFileSupported,

frontend/src/contexts/PreferencesContext.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import React, { createContext, useContext, useState, useEffect, useCallback } from 'react';
+import { preferencesService, UserPreferences, DEFAULT_PREFERENCES } from '../services/preferencesService';
+
+interface PreferencesContextValue {
+  preferences: UserPreferences;
+  updatePreference: <K extends keyof UserPreferences>(
+    key: K,
+    value: UserPreferences[K]
+  ) => Promise<void>;
+  resetPreferences: () => Promise<void>;
+  isLoading: boolean;
+}
+
+const PreferencesContext = createContext<PreferencesContextValue | undefined>(undefined);
+
+export const PreferencesProvider: React.FC<{ children: React.ReactNode }> = ({ children }) => {
+  const [preferences, setPreferences] = useState<UserPreferences>(DEFAULT_PREFERENCES);
+  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const loadPreferences = async () => {
+      try {
+        await preferencesService.initialize();
+        const loadedPreferences = await preferencesService.getAllPreferences();
+        setPreferences(loadedPreferences);
+      } catch (error) {
+        console.error('Failed to load preferences:', error);
+        // Keep default preferences on error
+      } finally {
+        setIsLoading(false);
+      }
+    };
+
+    loadPreferences();
+  }, []);
+
+  const updatePreference = useCallback(
+    async <K extends keyof UserPreferences>(key: K, value: UserPreferences[K]) => {
+        await preferencesService.setPreference(key, value);
+        setPreferences((prev) => ({
+          ...prev,
+          [key]: value,
+        }));
+    },
+    []
+  );
+
+  const resetPreferences = useCallback(async () => {
+      await preferencesService.clearAllPreferences();
+      setPreferences(DEFAULT_PREFERENCES);
+  }, []);
+
+  return (
+    <PreferencesContext.Provider
+      value={{
+        preferences,
+        updatePreference,
+        resetPreferences,
+        isLoading,
+      }}
+    >
+      {children}
+    </PreferencesContext.Provider>
+  );
+};
+
+export const usePreferences = (): PreferencesContextValue => {
+  const context = useContext(PreferencesContext);
+  if (!context) {
+    throw new Error('usePreferences must be used within a PreferencesProvider');
+  }
+  return context;
+};

frontend/src/hooks/tools/scannerImageSplit/useScannerImageSplitOperation.ts

@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
+import { useCallback } from 'react';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
-import { ToolType, useToolOperation } from '../shared/useToolOperation';
+import { ToolType, useToolOperation, ToolOperationConfig } from '../shared/useToolOperation';
 import { createStandardErrorHandler } from '../../../utils/toolErrorHandler';
 import { ScannerImageSplitParameters, defaultParameters } from './useScannerImageSplitParameters';
-import { zipFileService } from '../../../services/zipFileService';
+import { useToolResources } from '../shared/useToolResources';
 
 export const buildScannerImageSplitFormData = (parameters: ScannerImageSplitParameters, file: File): FormData => {
   const formData = new FormData();
@@ -15,40 +16,46 @@ export const buildScannerImageSplitFormData = (parameters: ScannerImageSplitPara
   return formData;
 };
 
-// Custom response handler to handle ZIP files that might be misidentified
+// Static configuration object
-const scannerImageSplitResponseHandler = async (responseData: Blob, inputFiles: File[]): Promise<File[]> => {
-  try {
-    // Always try to extract as ZIP first, regardless of content-type
-    const extractionResult = await zipFileService.extractAllFiles(responseData);
-    if (extractionResult.success && extractionResult.extractedFiles.length > 0) {
-      return extractionResult.extractedFiles;
-    }
-  } catch (error) {
-    console.warn('Failed to extract as ZIP, treating as single file:', error);
-  }
-
-  // Fallback: treat as single file (PNG image)
-  const inputFileName = inputFiles[0]?.name || 'document';
-  const baseFileName = inputFileName.replace(/\.[^.]+$/, '');
-  const singleFile = new File([responseData], `${baseFileName}.png`, { type: 'image/png' });
-  return [singleFile];
-};
-
 export const scannerImageSplitOperationConfig = {
   toolType: ToolType.singleFile,
   buildFormData: buildScannerImageSplitFormData,
   operationType: 'scannerImageSplit',
   endpoint: '/api/v1/misc/extract-image-scans',
-  multiFileEndpoint: false,
-  responseHandler: scannerImageSplitResponseHandler,
   defaultParameters,
 } as const;
 
 export const useScannerImageSplitOperation = () => {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const { extractAllZipFiles } = useToolResources();
 
-  return useToolOperation<ScannerImageSplitParameters>({
+  // Custom response handler that extracts ZIP files containing images
+  // Can't add to exported config because it requires access to the hook so must be part of the hook
+  const responseHandler = useCallback(async (blob: Blob, originalFiles: File[]): Promise<File[]> => {
+    try {
+      // Scanner image split returns ZIP files with multiple images
+      const extractedFiles = await extractAllZipFiles(blob);
+
+      // If extraction succeeded and returned files, use them
+      if (extractedFiles.length > 0) {
+        return extractedFiles;
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.warn('Failed to extract as ZIP, treating as single file:', error);
+    }
+
+    // Fallback: treat as single file (PNG image)
+    const inputFileName = originalFiles[0]?.name || 'document';
+    const baseFileName = inputFileName.replace(/\.[^.]+$/, '');
+    const singleFile = new File([blob], `${baseFileName}.png`, { type: 'image/png' });
+    return [singleFile];
+  }, [extractAllZipFiles]);
+
+  const config: ToolOperationConfig<ScannerImageSplitParameters> = {
     ...scannerImageSplitOperationConfig,
+    responseHandler,
     getErrorMessage: createStandardErrorHandler(t('scannerImageSplit.error.failed', 'An error occurred while extracting image scans.'))
-  });
+  };
+
+  return useToolOperation(config);
 };

frontend/src/hooks/tools/shared/useToolOperation.ts

@@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ export const useToolOperation = <TParams>(
             processedFiles = [singleFile];
           } else {
             // Default: assume ZIP response for multi-file endpoints
+            // Note: extractZipFiles will check preferences.autoUnzip setting
             processedFiles = await extractZipFiles(response.data);
 
             if (processedFiles.length === 0) {

frontend/src/hooks/tools/shared/useToolResources.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 import { useState, useCallback, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { generateThumbnailForFile, generateThumbnailWithMetadata, ThumbnailWithMetadata } from '../../../utils/thumbnailUtils';
 import { zipFileService } from '../../../services/zipFileService';
+import { usePreferences } from '../../../contexts/PreferencesContext';
 
 
 export const useToolResources = () => {
+  const { preferences } = usePreferences();
   const [blobUrls, setBlobUrls] = useState<string[]>([]);
 
   const addBlobUrl = useCallback((url: string) => {
@@ -81,8 +83,20 @@ export const useToolResources = () => {
     return results;
   }, []);
 
-  const extractZipFiles = useCallback(async (zipBlob: Blob): Promise<File[]> => {
+  const extractZipFiles = useCallback(async (zipBlob: Blob, skipAutoUnzip = false): Promise<File[]> => {
     try {
+      // Check if we should extract based on preferences
+      const shouldExtract = await zipFileService.shouldUnzip(
+        zipBlob,
+        preferences.autoUnzip,
+        preferences.autoUnzipFileLimit,
+        skipAutoUnzip
+      );
+
+      if (!shouldExtract) {
+        return [new File([zipBlob], 'result.zip', { type: 'application/zip' })];
+      }
+
       const zipFile = new File([zipBlob], 'temp.zip', { type: 'application/zip' });
       const extractionResult = await zipFileService.extractPdfFiles(zipFile);
       return extractionResult.success ? extractionResult.extractedFiles : [];
@@ -90,32 +104,30 @@ export const useToolResources = () => {
       console.error('useToolResources.extractZipFiles - Error:', error);
       return [];
     }
-  }, []);
+  }, [preferences.autoUnzip, preferences.autoUnzipFileLimit]);
 
-  const extractAllZipFiles = useCallback(async (zipBlob: Blob): Promise<File[]> => {
+  const extractAllZipFiles = useCallback(async (zipBlob: Blob, skipAutoUnzip = false): Promise<File[]> => {
     try {
-      const JSZip = (await import('jszip')).default;
+      // Check if we should extract based on preferences
-      const zip = new JSZip();
+      const shouldExtract = await zipFileService.shouldUnzip(
+        zipBlob,
+        preferences.autoUnzip,
+        preferences.autoUnzipFileLimit,
+        skipAutoUnzip
+      );
 
-      const arrayBuffer = await zipBlob.arrayBuffer();
+      if (!shouldExtract) {
-      const zipContent = await zip.loadAsync(arrayBuffer);
+        return [new File([zipBlob], 'result.zip', { type: 'application/zip' })];
-
-      const extractedFiles: File[] = [];
-
-      for (const [filename, file] of Object.entries(zipContent.files)) {
-        if (!file.dir) {
-          const content = await file.async('blob');
-          const extractedFile = new File([content], filename, { type: 'application/pdf' });
-          extractedFiles.push(extractedFile);
-        }
       }
 
-      return extractedFiles;
+      const zipFile = new File([zipBlob], 'temp.zip', { type: 'application/zip' });
+      const extractionResult = await zipFileService.extractAllFiles(zipFile);
+      return extractionResult.success ? extractionResult.extractedFiles : [];
     } catch (error) {
-      console.error('Error in extractAllZipFiles:', error);
+      console.error('useToolResources.extractAllZipFiles - Error:', error);
       return [];
     }
-  }, []);
+  }, [preferences.autoUnzip, preferences.autoUnzipFileLimit]);
 
   const createDownloadInfo = useCallback(async (
     files: File[],

frontend/src/services/indexedDBManager.ts

@@ -314,6 +314,15 @@ export const DATABASE_CONFIGS = {
     }]
   } as DatabaseConfig,
 
+  PREFERENCES: {
+    name: 'stirling-pdf-preferences',
+    version: 1,
+    stores: [{
+      name: 'preferences',
+      keyPath: 'key'
+    }]
+  } as DatabaseConfig,
+
 } as const;
 
 export const indexedDBManager = IndexedDBManager.getInstance();

frontend/src/services/preferencesService.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+import { indexedDBManager, DATABASE_CONFIGS } from './indexedDBManager';
+
+export interface UserPreferences {
+  autoUnzip: boolean;
+  autoUnzipFileLimit: number;
+}
+
+export const DEFAULT_PREFERENCES: UserPreferences = {
+  autoUnzip: true,
+  autoUnzipFileLimit: 4,
+};
+
+class PreferencesService {
+  private db: IDBDatabase | null = null;
+
+  async initialize(): Promise<void> {
+    this.db = await indexedDBManager.openDatabase(DATABASE_CONFIGS.PREFERENCES);
+  }
+
+  private ensureDatabase(): IDBDatabase {
+    if (!this.db) {
+      throw new Error('PreferencesService not initialized. Call initialize() first.');
+    }
+    return this.db;
+  }
+
+  async getPreference<K extends keyof UserPreferences>(
+    key: K
+  ): Promise<UserPreferences[K]> {
+    const db = this.ensureDatabase();
+
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+      const transaction = db.transaction(['preferences'], 'readonly');
+      const store = transaction.objectStore('preferences');
+      const request = store.get(key);
+
+      request.onsuccess = () => {
+        const result = request.result;
+        if (result && result.value !== undefined) {
+          resolve(result.value);
+        } else {
+          // Return default value if preference not found
+          resolve(DEFAULT_PREFERENCES[key]);
+        }
+      };
+
+      request.onerror = () => {
+        console.error('Error reading preference:', key, request.error);
+        // Return default value on error
+        resolve(DEFAULT_PREFERENCES[key]);
+      };
+    });
+  }
+
+  async setPreference<K extends keyof UserPreferences>(
+    key: K,
+    value: UserPreferences[K]
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    const db = this.ensureDatabase();
+
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      const transaction = db.transaction(['preferences'], 'readwrite');
+      const store = transaction.objectStore('preferences');
+      const request = store.put({ key, value });
+
+      request.onsuccess = () => {
+        resolve();
+      };
+
+      request.onerror = () => {
+        console.error('Error writing preference:', key, request.error);
+        reject(request.error);
+      };
+    });
+  }
+
+  async getAllPreferences(): Promise<UserPreferences> {
+    const db = this.ensureDatabase();
+
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+      const transaction = db.transaction(['preferences'], 'readonly');
+      const store = transaction.objectStore('preferences');
+      const request = store.getAll();
+
+      request.onsuccess = () => {
+        const storedPrefs: Partial<UserPreferences> = {};
+        const results = request.result;
+
+        for (const item of results) {
+          if (item.key && item.value !== undefined) {
+            storedPrefs[item.key as keyof UserPreferences] = item.value;
+          }
+        }
+
+        // Merge with defaults to ensure all preferences exist
+        resolve({
+          ...DEFAULT_PREFERENCES,
+          ...storedPrefs,
+        });
+      };
+
+      request.onerror = () => {
+        console.error('Error reading all preferences:', request.error);
+        // Return defaults on error
+        resolve({ ...DEFAULT_PREFERENCES });
+      };
+    });
+  }
+
+  async clearAllPreferences(): Promise<void> {
+    const db = this.ensureDatabase();
+
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      const transaction = db.transaction(['preferences'], 'readwrite');
+      const store = transaction.objectStore('preferences');
+      const request = store.clear();
+
+      request.onsuccess = () => {
+        resolve();
+      };
+
+      request.onerror = () => {
+        reject(request.error);
+      };
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+export const preferencesService = new PreferencesService();

frontend/src/services/zipFileService.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 import JSZip, { JSZipObject } from 'jszip';
+import { StirlingFileStub, createStirlingFile } from '../types/fileContext';
+import { generateThumbnailForFile } from '../utils/thumbnailUtils';
+import { fileStorage } from './fileStorage';
 
 // Undocumented interface in JSZip for JSZipObject._data
 interface CompressedObject {
@@ -41,6 +44,15 @@ export class ZipFileService {
   private readonly maxTotalSize = 500 * 1024 * 1024; // 500MB total extraction limit
   private readonly supportedExtensions = ['.pdf'];
 
+  // ZIP file validation constants
+  private static readonly VALID_ZIP_TYPES = [
+    'application/zip',
+    'application/x-zip-compressed',
+    'application/x-zip',
+    'application/octet-stream' // Some browsers use this for ZIP files
+  ];
+  private static readonly VALID_ZIP_EXTENSIONS = ['.zip'];
+
   /**
    * Validate a ZIP file without extracting it
    */
@@ -238,23 +250,27 @@ export class ZipFileService {
   /**
    * Check if a file is a ZIP file based on type and extension
    */
-  private isZipFile(file: File): boolean {
+  public isZipFile(file: File): boolean {
-    const validTypes = [
+    const hasValidType = ZipFileService.VALID_ZIP_TYPES.includes(file.type);
-      'application/zip',
+    const hasValidExtension = ZipFileService.VALID_ZIP_EXTENSIONS.some(ext =>
-      'application/x-zip-compressed',
-      'application/x-zip',
-      'application/octet-stream' // Some browsers use this for ZIP files
-    ];
-
-    const validExtensions = ['.zip'];
-    const hasValidType = validTypes.includes(file.type);
-    const hasValidExtension = validExtensions.some(ext =>
       file.name.toLowerCase().endsWith(ext)
     );
 
     return hasValidType || hasValidExtension;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Check if a StirlingFileStub represents a ZIP file (for UI checks without loading full file)
+   */
+  public isZipFileStub(stub: StirlingFileStub): boolean {
+    const hasValidType = stub.type && ZipFileService.VALID_ZIP_TYPES.includes(stub.type);
+    const hasValidExtension = ZipFileService.VALID_ZIP_EXTENSIONS.some(ext =>
+      stub.name.toLowerCase().endsWith(ext)
+    );
+
+    return hasValidType || hasValidExtension;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Check if a filename indicates a PDF file
    */
@@ -309,33 +325,44 @@ export class ZipFileService {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Get file extension from filename
+   * Determine if a ZIP file should be extracted based on user preferences
+   *
+   * @param zipBlob - The ZIP file to check
+   * @param autoUnzip - User preference for auto-unzipping
+   * @param autoUnzipFileLimit - Maximum number of files to auto-extract
+   * @param skipAutoUnzip - Bypass preference check (for automation)
+   * @returns true if the ZIP should be extracted, false otherwise
    */
-  private getFileExtension(filename: string): string {
+  async shouldUnzip(
-    return filename.substring(filename.lastIndexOf('.')).toLowerCase();
+    zipBlob: Blob | File,
-  }
+    autoUnzip: boolean,
-
+    autoUnzipFileLimit: number,
-  /**
+    skipAutoUnzip: boolean = false
-   * Check if ZIP file contains password protection
+  ): Promise<boolean> {
-   */
-  private async isPasswordProtected(file: File): Promise<boolean> {
     try {
-      const zip = new JSZip();
+      // Automation always extracts
-      await zip.loadAsync(file);
+      if (skipAutoUnzip) {
-
+        return true;
-      // Check if any files are encrypted
-      for (const [_filename, zipEntry] of Object.entries(zip.files)) {
-        if (zipEntry.options?.compression === 'STORE' && getData(zipEntry)?.compressedSize === 0) {
-          // This might indicate encryption, but JSZip doesn't provide direct encryption detection
-          // We'll handle this in the extraction phase
-        }
       }
 
-      return false; // JSZip will throw an error if password is required
+      // Check if auto-unzip is enabled
+      if (!autoUnzip) {
+        return false;
+      }
+
+      // Load ZIP and count files
+      const zip = new JSZip();
+      const zipContents = await zip.loadAsync(zipBlob);
+
+      // Count non-directory entries
+      const fileCount = Object.values(zipContents.files).filter(entry => !entry.dir).length;
+
+      // Only extract if within limit
+      return fileCount <= autoUnzipFileLimit;
     } catch (error) {
-      // If we can't load the ZIP, it might be password protected
+      console.error('Error checking shouldUnzip:', error);
-      const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : '';
+      // On error, default to not extracting (safer)
-      return errorMessage.includes('password') || errorMessage.includes('encrypted');
+      return false;
     }
   }
 
@@ -457,6 +484,79 @@ export class ZipFileService {
 
     return mimeTypes[ext || ''] || 'application/octet-stream';
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Extract PDF files from ZIP and store them in IndexedDB with preserved history metadata
+   * Used by both FileManager and FileEditor to avoid code duplication
+   *
+   * @param zipFile - The ZIP file to extract from
+   * @param zipStub - The StirlingFileStub for the ZIP (contains metadata to preserve)
+   * @returns Object with success status, extracted stubs, and any errors
+   */
+  async extractAndStoreFilesWithHistory(
+    zipFile: File,
+    zipStub: StirlingFileStub
+  ): Promise<{ success: boolean; extractedStubs: StirlingFileStub[]; errors: string[] }> {
+    const result = {
+      success: false,
+      extractedStubs: [] as StirlingFileStub[],
+      errors: [] as string[]
+    };
+
+    try {
+      // Extract PDF files from ZIP
+      const extractionResult = await this.extractPdfFiles(zipFile);
+
+      if (!extractionResult.success || extractionResult.extractedFiles.length === 0) {
+        result.errors = extractionResult.errors;
+        return result;
+      }
+
+      // Process each extracted file
+      for (const extractedFile of extractionResult.extractedFiles) {
+        try {
+          // Generate thumbnail
+          const thumbnail = await generateThumbnailForFile(extractedFile);
+
+          // Create StirlingFile
+          const newStirlingFile = createStirlingFile(extractedFile);
+
+          // Create StirlingFileStub with ZIP's history metadata
+          const stub: StirlingFileStub = {
+            id: newStirlingFile.fileId,
+            name: extractedFile.name,
+            size: extractedFile.size,
+            type: extractedFile.type,
+            lastModified: extractedFile.lastModified,
+            quickKey: newStirlingFile.quickKey,
+            createdAt: Date.now(),
+            isLeaf: true,
+            // Preserve ZIP's history - unzipping is NOT a tool operation
+            originalFileId: zipStub.originalFileId,
+            parentFileId: zipStub.parentFileId,
+            versionNumber: zipStub.versionNumber,
+            toolHistory: zipStub.toolHistory || [],
+            thumbnailUrl: thumbnail
+          };
+
+          // Store in IndexedDB
+          await fileStorage.storeStirlingFile(newStirlingFile, stub);
+
+          result.extractedStubs.push(stub);
+        } catch (error) {
+          const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error';
+          result.errors.push(`Failed to process "${extractedFile.name}": ${errorMessage}`);
+        }
+      }
+
+      result.success = result.extractedStubs.length > 0;
+      return result;
+    } catch (error) {
+      const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error';
+      result.errors.push(`Failed to extract ZIP file: ${errorMessage}`);
+      return result;
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 // Export singleton instance

frontend/src/tests/convert/ConvertIntegration.test.tsx

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import { renderHook, act } from '@testing-library/react';
 import { useConvertOperation } from '../../hooks/tools/convert/useConvertOperation';
 import { ConvertParameters } from '../../hooks/tools/convert/useConvertParameters';
 import { FileContextProvider } from '../../contexts/FileContext';
+import { PreferencesProvider } from '../../contexts/PreferencesContext';
 import { I18nextProvider } from 'react-i18next';
 import i18n from '../../i18n/config';
 import { createTestStirlingFile } from '../utils/testFileHelpers';
@@ -88,9 +89,11 @@ const createPDFFile = (): StirlingFile => {
 // Test wrapper component
 const TestWrapper: React.FC<{ children: React.ReactNode }> = ({ children }) => (
   <I18nextProvider i18n={i18n}>
-    <FileContextProvider>
+    <PreferencesProvider>
-      {children}
+      <FileContextProvider>
-    </FileContextProvider>
+        {children}
+      </FileContextProvider>
+    </PreferencesProvider>
   </I18nextProvider>
 );
 

frontend/src/tests/convert/ConvertSmartDetectionIntegration.test.tsx

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { renderHook, act, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react';
 import { useConvertOperation } from '../../hooks/tools/convert/useConvertOperation';
 import { useConvertParameters } from '../../hooks/tools/convert/useConvertParameters';
 import { FileContextProvider } from '../../contexts/FileContext';
+import { PreferencesProvider } from '../../contexts/PreferencesContext';
 import { I18nextProvider } from 'react-i18next';
 import i18n from '../../i18n/config';
 import { detectFileExtension } from '../../utils/fileUtils';
@@ -76,9 +77,11 @@ vi.mock('../../services/thumbnailGenerationService', () => ({
 
 const TestWrapper: React.FC<{ children: React.ReactNode }> = ({ children }) => (
   <I18nextProvider i18n={i18n}>
-    <FileContextProvider>
+    <PreferencesProvider>
-      {children}
+      <FileContextProvider>
-    </FileContextProvider>
+        {children}
+      </FileContextProvider>
+    </PreferencesProvider>
   </I18nextProvider>
 );